shadowmeboy

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 It was a cold and rainy morning in North Central Washington, as we got ready to head out for Seattle and our flight. We were leaving early, just to give extra time for the pass. You will notice a lack of snowfall in our front yard compared to the feet of snow from the previous winter. We were thankful for that! Although we might pay for it this summer. Car is all packed and ready to go! Off we go! We are actually heading East on South WA Highway 17 to head West. This way we avoid another Mountain Pass over Blewitt Pass (US Highway 97). Rain started to turn into snow out by the junction for WA Highway 174 at Leahy Junction. Back to rain as we get down by the Sun Lakes. Although no Sun! We make it to Ephrata and its time to grab some breakfast. Taco Bell for the Win! Susan and I both enjoyed out Taco Bell breakfast. It had been years since the last time we had gotten breakfast there.

A few days before the cruise, Susan and I got our tip bags ready to go for the cruise! We put in Godiva Chocolates, Hershey Kisses, Candy Canes, Starlight mints, and a small tip in a small stocking as it was a Christmas cruise! Here they are all packed and ready to go!

Hey all! Shadowmeboy here! First of all I apologize for the tardiness of this review, I have been playing catch up all Spring. 2024 at my job is a busy year, because its the only year every 4 years where we can have 5 elections. I work in elections for the County immediately North of us here in Washington State. We started the year out with a February Special that was 83% of the entire county, so lots of work. Then the day we certified the February Special, ballots went out for Washington's Presidential Primary. That was a ton of work. Then we had a short break where Susan and I were able to sneak in a 5 night Pacific Coastal cruise (yes, I will do a review on that one as well). Before coming back to a small April Special Election, which allowed me to get caught up on photos and get this overdue review started. Our Cruise History! My wife, Susan, and I love to cruise and do it any chance we can. Before this cruise, we have sailed 16 times together and I have sailed once by myself. Past Reviews: In 2016 we sailed the Norwegian Sun on a Southbound Cruise from Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. You can read the review here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2529761 The Norwegian Sun is pictured in Sitka, AK. In June of 2017, We sailed the Norwegian Escape to the Western Caribbean. Review: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2516206 The Norwegian Escape pictured in Costa Maya, Mexico. In December 2017, We sailed the Norwegian Star to the Mexican Riviera over Christmas. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2581330 The Norwegian Star pictured in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico In June 2018, We sailed the Norwegian Jewel Northbound Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Seward, Alaska. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2557365-north-to-alaska-shadowmeboys-jewel-shimmering-pictorial-review/ The Norwegian Jewel pictured in Juneau, AK from the Mount Roberts Tram. In November 2018, We sailed the Norwegian Bliss on a Eastern Caribbean Cruise out of Miami. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2614687-shadowmeboys-blissful-eastern-caribbean-pictorial-cruise-review/ The Norwegian Bliss docked in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin islands. In June 2019, we sailed the Norwegian Dawn on a Canada/New England Cruise out New York City. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2678378-shadowmeboys-norwegian-dawn-canadanew-england-pictorial-review/ The Norwegian Dawn anchored just outside the harbor of Newport, Rhode Island. In September 2019, I sailed a 7 Night Alaska roundtrip on the Norwegian Bliss without Susan. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2707063-shadowmeboy-helps-close-down-alaska-on-the-bliss/ The Norwegian Bliss docked in Ketchikan, Alaska. Then Covid Hit. What did we do during our unplanned pause in cruising? In July 2020, when we were supposed to sail Alaska, we ended up doing a 13 day, 7 state road trip. It got me up to 48 states visited, as I hit my 47th State (Wyoming) and 48th (South Dakota) along the way! This picture I took near Glacier National Park was published in a train calendar for 2021! Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubE1rop-vFZS1p-7tqOKvd0O) In December 2020, Susan got her 48th and 49th states when we traveled through North and South Carolina to surprise my Mom and Dad on Christmas Day in Florida. Sunset picture from Indian Rock Beach, FL near Tampa. Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubELw7b1b-LHcGNfTHHGRVDA) In April 2021, we took a train ride from Seattle to South Bend, Indiana, rented a car, and drove to my 49th State of Ohio. We visited family, the Ohio State Reformatory (where the movie Shawshank Redemption was filmed), and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There I am in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubGUpI47p3TseK36oE6g81RA Finally, we snuck away for a Las Vegas Getaway in January 2022 for my Birthday. A Lion Fish at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Shark Reef Aquarium. Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubGSUJn9EuQ-19fbfBb184vw That caught us up to April of 2022. When we finally got back to cruising! Return to Cruising! In April 2022, We returned to to cruising aboard the Norwegian Breakaway! We sailed a 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise out of New Orleans. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2851477-shadowmeboy-breakaway-adventure-from-new-orleans-to-the-western-caribbean/ Norwegian Breakaway docked next to the Norwegian Dawn in Cozumel, Mexico! In July 2022, we finally got to return to Alaska sailing with our friends, Trace and Maria, on a 7 night Alaska Seattle Roundtrip on the Norwegian Spirit. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2888618-shadowmeboys-spirited-return-to-alaska/ The Norwegian Spirit docked at Ward Cove in Ketchikan, AK. In December 2022, we escaped the multiple feet of snow at home and enjoyed the sun and sand of the Caribbean on our 11-night Southern Caribbean Cruise on the Norwegian Encore. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2927077-shadowmeboys-2022-encore-christmas-and-new-years-southern-caribbean-cruise-adventure/ The Norwegian Encore docked in Willemstad, Curacao! In June 2023, we headed to Alaska onboard our favorite ship in the fleet, the Norwegian Sun! This was a 10-night Alaskan Cruise roundtrip out of Seattle. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2966898-shadowmeboys-suntastic-10-night-alaskan-anniversary-cruise-adventure/ The Norwegian Sun docked in Icy Strait Point, Alaska taken from the ZipRider! About us: My wife, Susan, is a Elementary Math Specialist and I stopped working for a grocery store and now work a county near our home in elections as a Washington State Certified Elections Administrator!. Susan and I have been married 16 years! Due to her school schedule, we cannot sail as much as we would like. We live in the Pacific Northwest, along the Columbia River on the "dry" side of Washington State among the Apple and Cherry Orchards. Back on December 19th, 2023, we embarked on our latest Cruise adventure! Our longest Cruise to-date! This Christmas/New Years cruise on the Norwegian Sun is our 18th cruise together! This was a 12-night Eastern Caribbean out of Baltimore. Most of the pictures in this review are taken with my Canon EOS 90D, my iPhone 15 Pro, my GoPro Hero 7 Black, my GoPro Hero Black 9, or my GoPro 11 along with some shots from Susan's Samsung phone. Please feel free to ask questions along the way! I will try to answer them as quickly as I can. This review will be (as always) very picture heavy. Additionally, part of the delay in getting this review out was that some pictures took longer to edit. I ended up with over 3600 pictures to sort, edit, and prepare for this review. I love to relive my journeys through my pictures! I hope you enjoy them as well! The Norwegian Sun docked in Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis on our way back from our Rail & Sail Excursion! Let's get this trip aboard the Norwegian Sun started!

Seward Brewing Company Carcross, YT (Skagway) - The Maple Rush - Unit #3 Carcross Commons Maple Syrup shop

They are awesome!

They will ship stuff as well! We have done that multiple times!

1. Too Funny! 2. A Pineapple Mimosa sounds awesome (checks NCL app for # of days till next sailing), I wish I had one right now! 3. Lol! 4. Yes! The Halibut Fish & Chips from the restaurant down by the cannery are good too! 5. That sounds like a lot of walking, with no bar at the top! 6. Yum! 7. Good to know! 8. I love playing Crib! 9. I prefer the great outdoors, but that is personal preference. I hate the tall wind screens. Tougher to get good pictures though. 10. Yes! I love watching docking and undocking. We got to see the Bliss leave Ketchikan while on the Sun last summer. We stood not 5 feet from the guys throwing the bow lines as the Bliss was departing. So amazing! Whales and Sunrise/Sunsets are right up there too! 11. Love it! 12. It’s always fun meeting friends in port when they are on a different ship! 13. Nice! 14. Good luck on the book roulette! You could always pick up a book in Alaska if the mission fails onboard. Have an amazing trip! Matthew

Since this was my latest photo review, I wanted to give a little update. I have had a super busy winter/spring at work and at home, and as such it has slowed down my ability to get a bunch on stuff done. I am finishing up editing our Christmas cruise pictures so I can do that review. In the meantime, we went on a spring break cruise, so I have that one to do as well. Plus, we have Hawaii in less than 70 days, eek! I work in an election office and the presidential primary throws an additional election in the mix that isn’t normally there this year. I am hoping this will all calm down! just wanted to give you all an update! Matthew

Our next adventure is in a little over 2 months when we hit our 50th state and 20th cruise together! We will be sailing the Pride of America in Hawaii! Yes, everything is well, just very busy. I would do the Sun for the better port times alone. You get an almost full day in each port including Victoria. I love the Sun! Plus you can always sit in the Great Outdoors (deck 12) and just enjoy nature! They have music and things going on all the time! I will post an update on my last review for everyone to update later today.

As you mentioned it was 5 years ago, wow, and while I cannot tell you a name of the shop I remember roughly where in Juneau it was. The store I got it at was on Franklin, past the Red Dog Saloon, on the left hand side of the road when walking from the Alaska Short Company or Goldbelt Tram. I want to say it was closer to the lucky lady pub, but I am not sure of that. Another shop I would suggest checking out, in Juneau, for unique and Alaskan made items is Caribou Crossings. They are closer to the tram on the right side of Franklin. I always love finding something unique and that moose definitely fit the bill! Happy hunting and enjoy that Alaska cruise!

Juneau - right in front of the State Capitol building. Yes, it’s walkable.

First of all Thank you! Enjoy the Sun in Alaska! Yes, we are sailing the POA! It will be our 20th cruise together and our 50th state visited. Just wait for the boarding photo!

my favorite is the Inside Passage - Milk Chocolate Fudge with a peanut butter center!

Thank You! We leave in a few days!

Ketchikan - Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Excursion Juneau - Dog Sled Ride Excursion or Whale Watching through Harv & Marv Skagway - White Pass & Yukon Railroad is a must; Make sure to do the train. Sitka - Sitka Tours Birds, bears, and barnacles excursion or something close to that book privately through them. ISP - If you like the Zipline do the Zipline; The ATV excursion is awesome as well; Also a good port to do whale watching. Victoria - Eagle Wing Tours was awesome; We are planning to do Butchart Gardens in April.

Awesome! You will enjoy it!

Your welcome! Thanks for reading!

Your welcome! This had to be the best weather trip we have ever had in Alaska. As I mentioned in the review, the only bad days were the days we were at sea.

I always enjoy doing them! If someone can take something from it, then I think its a success! Thanks for reading!

Three little piggies were glad to see us! Abby Winnie Delilah Here is all the stuff we got on the trip. Some for us, some for others, and some for the travel wall. Overall it was a good trip! The next one is just around the corner! -- Feel free to ask any questions you have. i apologize it took me so long to get through this one. I hope you all enjoyed it! - Matthew

Withrow, WA Home at last!

Heading out after finishing shopping Up US Highway 2 Pine Canyon to Waterville Waterville, WA

We have to stop in Wenatchee for groceries on the way home. The fridge is empty and the guinea pigs might disown us. Lunch at Red Robin! Pizza for Susan Bacon Cheeseburger for me

We took Washington 203 up to Monroe to go across US Highway 2. marshmallows Stopped at Monroe's Safeway for a bathroom break and to get coffee Stevens Pass

Getting on I-5 T-Mobile - this was where the MLB All-Star game was today. I-90 tunnel I-90 floating bridge across Lake Washington I-90 tunnel under Mercer Island Made a detour to Renton for donuts! Dozen for the office at work and a half dozen for us!